Stellar Blade's upcoming release in Japan has prompted an EA Japan executive to bare his criticism over the country's rating system, particularly in comparison EA's survival horror game, Dead Space.
EA Japan GM Criticizes CERO Board Over Stellar Blade Release
Urges CERO to Update Rating Framework
*[1] screenshot taken from Shaun Noguchi's Twitter account
EA Japan's General Manager Shaun Noguchi criticized Japan's rating board, CERO, for approving Stellar Blade with a CERO D (17+) rating while rejecting Dead Space. Noguchi took to Twitter (X) to voice out his criticism and frustration, homing in on the inconsistencies in the rating process and saying Japan's game review process were rather "ambiguous."
Along with screenshots of graphic content, containing dismembered bodies and severed limbs, depicted in Stellar Blade, Noguchi stated in his post that despite featuring similar levels of gore, Dead Space was denied a rating, leading to its cancellation for physical console release in Japan.
CERO rates games as CERO D (17+) for "expressions and content suitable only to 17+ audiences." While a CERO Z (18+) rating meant that such games should not be distributed to those under 18 years old, which rating Dead Space was even denied.
"What’s going on CERO? The Stellar Blade’s demo was really fun and absolutely action-packed. However, CERO denied our [game], Dead Space, a rating because it included cross-sections of severed body parts and internal organs," wrote Noguchi, "but here we have both cross-sections and insides on display passed off with a CERO D rating. I find this hard to accept…"
Discussing with an academe from Tokyo Intl. Professional University of Technology, Noguchi further expressed his personal opinion and stated that as the framework CERO ratings are based on is now over 20 years old, it has become disproportionate to the current situation pertaining to Japan.
"The purpose of CERO is 'to promote the sound development of young people and to maintain appropriate ethical standards in society.' In line with this purpose, CERO Z has been established as an age 18 and older standard to protect young people," he wrote in a reply tweet.
He continued, "However, for more than two years now, 18-year-olds have already reached the age of majority under the Civil Code, and are no longer considered youth. It is thought that the time has come to change the standard at this turning point of the times."
Source:
[1] Shaun Noguchi's tweet
Stellar Blade’s uncensored release in Japan prompts criticism of rating system
CERO rating system
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